Ps.42:1 (MSG) I want to drink God, deep drafts of God. Phi.3:13 (MSG) I’ve got my eye on the goal….I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
Two men from a different age, who experienced the contradictory, consuming power of desire. David had a desperate thirst for God, but was also overcome by an over powering desire for Bathsheba’s body. Paul who had the desire to kill all Christians dumped everything to embrace Christ. Such is the mercurial nature of desire – and we are all subject to its influence and power.
Think of that idyllic garden where the fruit of one tree looked so luscious and tempting it aroused an uncontrollable desire in Eve to try it, with disastrous consequences. Join Mary, whose desire disturbed her sleep, rising early she goes silently to the tomb with one purpose – to perform the customary rites on one she loved. Now, pause here, and look into your own heart, what is the one thing you desire above everything else? It’s unspoken, but bubbles up like heart-burn, demanding attention, craving satisfaction.
Desire intrudes every day; it flashes on our screen unannounced. Is it the mind, the heart, the body, or the spirit? You didn’t expect it. It takes you by surprise. Your reaction is critical. What do you do about it? It may be imaginary, a harmless passing thought, or it may take hold of you, compelling you to do something about it. A glossy photo prompts the desire for a better physique. Facebook dangles the desire for immediate contact. A new skin product stimulates the desire to look better or live longer. An adolescent desires to dress like her peers. The distractions never end. As one writer put it ‘You can’t stop birds flying round your head, but you can prevent them from nesting in your hair’. Prompted by the impetus of desire to learn more, sample the new, I move from one writer to another. I get carried away, sometimes disappointed, sometimes delighted or excited, but desire is the trigger that sets me off. If I only had this or that is the operative, misleading word.
The question is do our desires possess us, or do we possess them? Who are we before they arise within us? Where do they come from? We are more than our thoughts, or emotions, or desires. We are spiritual beings having a human experience – be it tragedy, temptations, tribulation or triumph.
Desire becomes irresistible in the criminal and substance abuser. It stirs hatred in the xenophobic. It lies hidden in all political agendas, all power seeking; think of current national leaders covetous of land, property, domination, power, or wealth. Desire in the greedy, the lustful and the paedophile ruins lives. In the dictator it becomes demonic destroying property, or ruthlessly sending millions to their death.
Desire can also be beneficial, driving business, controlling and coordinating our energy and skill – John F. Kennedy desired America to be the first to put a man on the moon. Martin Luther King’s driving passion was to liberate America from racial injustice and discrimination. Mother Theresa burned with the desire to be like Christ to those dying on the streets in Calcutta. Mandela directed all his energy to end apartheid. There are those who passionately desire to find a cure for cancer, the abolition of racial and gender discrimination and injustice, of poverty, of ecological conservation, saving the planet from suicidal action and we all desire better service from the government.
On the personal level, what do we do with intrusive, impulsive desires? How do we detach ourselves from them? Jesus sets the compass – “Seek first the kingdom of God”- that was his energy center controlling his thoughts, movements, teachings, relationships, values. “Where your treasure is- your heart thought will be in the place you most want to be’ (MSG) and Jesus wanted most of all to remain in God’s company. He consistently set aside time for silence and solitude with God. Contemplation gave him the ability to respond to distractions. A central belief in Buddhism is, ‘’Desire causes discomfort’ –‘let it go’, like a leaf in a stream. When it comes, let it pass. The longer we let desire linger the stronger its attraction gets until instant gratification seems the only answer and becomes food for our consumer appetite and reckless spending. Paul cautions us against distracting desire, and when, uninvited, it suddenly appears to confuse or contaminate our mind he gives us the antidote, ‘you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse….Do that, and God who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.’ (Phil.4:4-9) MSG. This enables us to ‘look beyond’ the passing distractions into the space of life affirming responses.
Be alert to desire’s power to direct or distract, to clarify or confuse, to co-ordinate or contaminate. Jesus asks us, “What are you seeking? What do you want me to do for you?” What is your answer? What do you desire most of all?